ABSTRACT
In the laboratory, adult Luidia clathrata presented with different sizes of buried prey choose the smaller sizes. This selective behavior is probably related to the ease of manipulation and may facilitate maximal intake per unit time. Nutritive condition did not affect size-selectivity as both starved and fed adult L. clathrata choose small prey models. However, starved individuals ingested greater numbers of prey than fed individuals. Small (R<25 mm) L. clathrata showed no significant preference between prey models of different sizes. Examination of stomach contents indicate that populations of Luidia clathrata in the Gulf of Mexico do not ingest different sizes of the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata in direct proportion to their relative abundance, but prefer the smaller individuals.
